Tovarish & Soyuz

Sculpture
Plastic, acrylic; 50 cm
Edition: 11.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A limited-edition sculpture titled 'Comrade & Union' (originally Tovarish & Soyuz), inspired by the utopian alternate world of Atomic Heart. Comrade embodies the spirit of the imaginary USSR, merging Soviet cultural elements with recognizable imagery from pop culture of that era.

The new work merges two worlds — Yoomoota's and Atomic Heart's — both set in alternative realities. The adventure first-person shooter by Mundfish studio is set in a 1950s era marked by the rise of robotics and advanced technology. 'Comrade & Union' evokes the spirit of the imaginary USSR through its design, drawing inspiration from the Hare in 'Nu, Pogodi!', the White Rabbit from 'Alice in Wonderland,' and 'Cheburashka.'

LEGEND:
The Comrade's boots are designed to resemble cars with the inscription 'First,' symbolizing the USSR's involvement in technological fields. His pants are made from melchior tea glass holders featuring images of the Twin robots, while his large head and rounded body evoke a roly-poly toy. The left hand, crafted from crystal and held in a repelling gesture, is reminiscent of the famous Soviet 'No!' poster, symbolizing both a crystal vodka glass and the rejection of alcohol.

The Comrade’s ears feature a screen displaying the game Tetris, which was invented in the Soviet Union and became popular in the world of Atomic Heart much earlier, given the leap in technological progress. Reminiscent of a Comrade dog, Union is a robotic animal designed in the style of the heroes from Atomic Heart. Its head mirrors the shape of Sputnik-1, the first artificial satellite successfully placed in orbit around the Earth.

"'Comrade & Union' are complex, multifaceted archetypes through which I have interpreted the atmosphere of Atomic Heart and the imaginary Soviet Union era. According to the legend of the Yoomoota Universe, these new characters reside on the planet U2beBetter. After their journeys and trials, they ultimately arrive at their core mission—to remind us of the pursuit of science and space exploration," says artist Taras Yoom.

SPECIFICATIONS:
'Comrade & Union' is made in a mixed technique, using different types of plastic, both transparent and solid.

PLANET: U2beBetter